A study of aspects of the 'Romances amorosos' of Luis de Góngora

This work examines the poetry in romance form of Luis de Gongora y Argote (1561 - 1627), with particular emphasis on that of an amatory nature. An investigation of the history and development of the Spanish romancero and a biographical study locate Gongora's romances within the context of his life, works and outside influences. Critical reactions towards the genre, from the seventeenth to the twentieth century, are examined. Apart from the historico-literary aspects, stylistic and thematic considerations are attended to by three methods: 1) a detailed exploration of two types of romance amoroso, the morisco and the rustico; 2) an examination of the representation of two major recurrent personae; 3) close analyses of two individual poems and a comparison of a further two. Several traditional interpretations are questioned and re-evaluated. The thesis argues that the romances demand more careful consideration than they have previously received. Their several themes and literary qualities are fully comparable to those of Gongora's longer and better-known works. Furthermore, the romance amoroso serves as a vehicle for the expression of the poet's attitudes towards love in all its aspects